Explosive-engine.



J. W. MEAKER. EXPLOSIVE ENGINE.

. APPLIOATION FILED 11mm, 1910.

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Patented Apr. 9, 1912. s SHEETSSHEET 1.

COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH 20.. WASHINGTON, D. c.

J. W. MEAKER. EXPLOSIVE' ENGINE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 9, 1910.

. Patented Apr. 9, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2 J. W. MEAKER.

EXPLOSIVE ENGINE,

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 9, 1910. Q

Patented Apr. 9, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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' UNITED ES. PATENT, OFFICE.

JOHN W. ME-AKER, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

EXPLOSIVE-ENGINE.

a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanyingdrawings.

This invention relates to explosive engines of the four-cycle type andmore partlcularlyto an arrangement of the cylinder whereby the interiorof the cylinder and piston and adjacent parts are thoroughly cooled andwhereby an impulse is given to the piston rod on each down stroke,

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter set forth, and moreparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is a view in transverse sectionthrough the cylinder and adjacent portions of a motor that embodiesfeatures of the invention showing the position of the parts at the endof the up-stroke; Fig. 2 is a view of a motor showing a pair of coupledcylinders one 1n section and one in elevation; Fig. 3 1s a view of amodification of the motor.

In the drawings, a cylinder 1 that is open at both ends rests atitslower extremity on V a base 2 with crank case 3 in which a main shaft4 is j ournaled. A sleeve 5 has a flange 6 on its lower open end whichis reciprocated in a counterbored or enlarged portion 7 of the lowerpart of the cylinder, the body of the sleeve fitting the body of thecylinder and a tubular extension 8 sliding in i a corresponding reducedupper end 9 of the cylinder. Packing rings 10 on the flange 6 andsimilar members 11 on the extension 8 prevent leakage. A valve chamber.12 is formed on the upper portion of the cylinder with its interior incommunication with the annular space formed above the upper face of thebody of the sleeve and'around the ex tension 8. The lower valve chamber13 is likewise formedon the cylinder so that its interior communicateswith the annular space between the upper face of the flange 10 and thecounterbored face 14 of the cylinder and around the sleeve 5. An intakeport 15 in the upper chamber and a similar port 16 in the lower chamberare controlled by inlet valves 17 and 18 operated through any preferredmechanism, as -for example, spring pressed tappets 19 and 20 which areSpecification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 9, 1912.

Application filed June 9, 1910. Serial No. 565,908.

respectively reciprocated through the mei i dium of a cam shaft 21driven in timed relation to the main shaft through suitable mechanismnot shown herein.- Exhaust ports 22 and 23 in the respective chambersare similarly controlled by exhaust valves driven by suitable means, asfor example, spring pressed tappets 24 and 25 recipro cated by the shaft21. Each sleeve 5 is connected by a wrist pin 26 and a piston rod 27 tocrank arms 28 of the main shaft in the usual manner. 2 Y

Any suitable ignition system is used for exploding the charges in thetwoannular spaces which form the compression chambers. Such means are notindicated and may be of any preferred form.

In operation the explosion in each annular space forming a compressionchamber 1s followed by the scavenging, intake and compression in theusual four-cycle rotation, but the cycles alternate so that the sleeveis given an impulse at each of its downward strokes. This, in thetwo-cylinder arrangement such as indicated in Fig.- 2, ives the sametorque to the shaft as in t e fouroylinderfour-cycle engine ofconventional type. In addition to this advantage of space and weight anddiminution of running parts, the open ended sleeve to which the mainshaft is coupled is thoroughly cooled by the movement of air through itsbore occasioned by the open ends. This likewise cools the cylinder whichmay be outwardly water jacketed as herein indicated or may have theusual radiating surface for air cooling.

While the construction just described is preferable it obviously maybemodified to give a single downward impulse to the piston on every otherstroke as in the conventional four-cycle motor, and such arrange: mentof parts is shown in Fig. 3 wherein an open ended cylinder is secured ona crank case and base 30 and has its lower portion counterbored. An openended sleeve 31is reciprocable in the upper portion of the cylinder 30and has a flange 32 at its lower end engaging the counterbored portion.Packing rings 33 'on the upper portion of the sleeve and similar members34 on the flange insure a tight joint and provide an annular compressionchamber indicated at 35 into which ducts controlled by valve mechanismindicated at 36 open from the source of fuel supply. This particularform of construction has a further advantage in that the crank shaft 37of the engine may be coupled by a piston rod 38 to a wrist pin 39 whichengages the sleeve above the upper set of rings 83. As a result of thisconstruction compression and ignition take place when the Wrist pinbearings are remote from the compression chamber and this eliminatesliability to leakage which is one of the difficulties current inexplosive engines of conventional type.

It may be desirable to regulate the amount of air circulation throughthe sleeve in order to allow the cylinder to be warmed to the mostefficient degree. One method of accomplishing this is by placing adamper 40 in the upper end of the tubular sleeve (as indicated in Fig.2) so arranged as to reduce to a greater or less extent the size of thesleeve opening. Any preferred form of shutter or damper may be employedfor this purpose.

Obviously changes in the details of construction may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention and I do not care to limitmyself to any particular form or arrangement of parts.

What I claim as my invention is 1. In an explosive engine, an open endedcylinder having an enlarged lower portion and a contracted upperportion, an open ended sleeve reoiprocable therein having portions thatfit the corresponding portion of the cylinder, means for partiallyclosing the bore of the sleeve, and a crank shaft operatively coupled tothe sleeve.

2. In an explosive engine, an open ended cylinder having an enlargedlower portion and a contracted upper portion, an open ended sleevereciprocable therein having portions that fit the corresponding portionsof the cylinder, means for partially closing the bore of the sleeve, avalve chamber in communication with the annular space formed between thesleeve and cylinder, a crank shaft operatively connected to the sleeve,and intake and exhaust valves in the chamber operatively connected tothe shaft to open in timed relation to the movement of the sleeve.

3. In an explosive engine, a closed base, open ended cylinders securedthereon, each cylinder having an enlarged lower portion and a contractedupper portion, an open ended sleeve reciprocable in each cylinder havingportions that fit the corresponding portions of the cylinder, a crankshaft journaled in the base adjacent the cylinders and operativelycoupled to each sleeve, and means for partially closing the bore of oneor more of the sleeves.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN W. MEAKER.

Witnesses:

O'r'ro F. BARTHEL, ANNA M. DORR.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

